Pharmacy Medication Verification System

1. A method comprising the steps of: determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and further comprising the steps of providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; wherein the step of determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a first machine readable identifier connected to the first medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening; the step of dropping the first medication comprises dropping the first medication with the first identifier connected thereto through the opened access opening into the container; the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication comprises determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication by reading a second machine readable identifier connected to the second medication with a medication identification sensor mounted adjacent the wall and the access opening; and the step of dropping the second medication comprises dropping the second medication with the second identifier connected thereto through the reopened access opening into the container.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dropping the first medication comprises releasing the first medication from one of a person's hands while the first medication is above the opened access opening; and the step of dropping the second medication comprises releasing the second medication from one of the hands while the second medication is above the reopened access opening.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the medication identification sensor used to determine whether the first medication is a correct or incorrect medication faces toward a space above the access opening; the step of reading the first machine readable identifier occurs while the first medication is in the space above the access opening; the step of dropping the first medication comprises releasing the first medication while the first medication is in the space above the opened access opening; the medication identification sensor used to determine whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication faces toward the space above the access opening; the step of reading the second machine readable identifier occurs while the second medication is in the space above the access opening; and the step of dropping the second medication comprises releasing the second medication while the second medication is in the space above the reopened access opening.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reading the first machine readable identifier occurs while holding with one of a person's hands the first medication in the space above the access opening; the step of releasing the first medication comprises releasing the first medication from one of the hands; the step of reading the second machine readable identifier occurs while holding with one of the hands the second medication in the space above the access opening; the step of releasing the second medication comprises releasing the second medication from one of the hands.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reading the first machine readable identifier occurs while holding with a robotic arm the first medication in the space above the access opening; the step of releasing the first medication comprises releasing the first medication from the robotic arm; the step of reading the second machine readable identifier occurs while holding with the robotic arm the second medication in the space above the access opening; the step of releasing the second medication comprises releasing the second medication from the robotic arm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first machine readable identifier is connected to a package containing a number of unit doses of the first medication, wherein the number represents a plurality of the unit doses; after determining that the first medication is a correct medication, making an entry of the number of unit doses with a computer input mechanism so that the entry of the number is recognized by a computer program to indicate that the number of unit doses is associated with the package; and wherein the step of dropping the first medication comprises dropping the package containing the number of unit doses through the opened access opening into the container by releasing the package while the package is above the opened access opening.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second machine readable identifier is connected to a package containing a number of unit doses of the second medication, wherein the number represents a plurality of the unit doses; after determining that the second medication is a correct medication, making an entry of the number of unit doses with a computer input mechanism so that the entry of the number is recognized by a computer program to indicate that the number of unit doses is associated with the package; and wherein the step of dropping the second medication comprises dropping the package containing the number of unit doses through the reopened access opening into the container by releasing the package while the package is above the reopened access opening.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing a plurality of storage bins each containing a plurality of medications; picking with a robotic arm or one of a person's hands the first medication from one of the storage bins; while holding the picked first medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; wherein the step of reading the first machine readable identifier comprises reading the first machine readable identifier while holding with the robotic arm or one of the hands the picked first medication adjacent the access opening; after the step of reading the first machine readable identifier, dropping the first medication from the robotic arm or one of the hands while the robotic arm or one of the hands is above the access opening to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; after the step of dropping the first medication, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening to adjacent one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; picking with the robotic arm or one of the hands the second medication from the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; while holding the picked second medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; wherein the step of reading the second machine readable identifier comprises reading the second machine readable identifier while holding with the robotic arm or one of the hands the picked second medication adjacent the access opening; after the step of reading the second machine readable identifier, dropping the second medication from the robotic arm or one of the hands while the robotic arm or one of the hands is above the access opening to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked is different from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing a box defining an interior chamber which extends over the wall; picking the first medication with a robotic arm or one of a person's hands from a location outside the box; while holding the first medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands, inserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box; dropping the first medication from the inserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; after dropping the first medication, withdrawing the robotic arm or one of the hands from the box; picking the second medication with the withdrawn robotic arm or one of the hands from a location outside the box; while holding the picked second medication in the robotic arm or one of the hands, reinserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box; dropping the second medication from the reinserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container; and after dropping the second medication, withdrawing the robotic arm or one of the hands from the box.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the location from which the first medication was picked is a first storage bin outside the box; and the location from which the second medication was picked is a second different storage bin outside the box.

12. A method comprising the steps of: determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and further comprising the steps of providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; providing a plurality of storage bins each containing a plurality of medications; picking with a robotic arm or one of a person's hands the first medication from one of the storage bins; before the step of dropping the first medication, moving the picked first medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the first medication, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening to adjacent one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; picking with the robotic arm or one of the hands the second medication from the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; before the step of dropping the second medication, moving the picked second medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the second medication, moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening; providing a box defining an interior chamber which extends over the wall; wherein the storage bin from which the first medication was picked is outside the box; wherein the storage bin from which the second medication was picked is outside the box; wherein the step of moving the picked first medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening comprises inserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box through an opening formed in a wall of the box; dropping the first medication from the inserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; wherein the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening to adjacent the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored comprises withdrawing the inserted robotic arm or one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; wherein the step of moving the picked second medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening comprises reinserting the robotic arm or one of the hands into the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; dropping the second medication from the reinserted robotic arm or one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container; and wherein the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the access opening after the step of dropping the second medication comprises withdrawing the robotic arm or one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of dropping the first medication comprises releasing the first medication from one of the hands while the first medication is above the opened access opening; and the step of dropping the second medication comprises releasing the second medication from one of the hands while the second medication is above the reopened access opening.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands while holding the picked first medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands comprises moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to a space above the access opening; the step of reading the first machine readable identifier comprises reading the first machine readable identifier while holding with the robotic arm or one of the hands the picked first medication in the space above the access opening; the step of dropping the first medication comprises dropping the first medication from the robotic arm or one of the hands while the robotic arm or one of the hands is in the space above the access opening; the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands after the step of dropping the first medication comprises moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the space above the access opening to adjacent the one of the storage bins in which the second medication is stored; the step of moving the robotic arm or one of the hands while holding the picked second medication with the robotic arm or one of the hands comprises moving the robotic arm or one of the hands away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to the space above the access opening; the step of reading the second machine readable identifier comprises reading the second machine readable identifier while holding with the robotic arm or one of the hands the picked second medication in the space above the access opening; the step of dropping the second medication comprises dropping the second medication from the robotic arm or one of the hands while the robotic arm or one of the hands is in the space above the access opening.

15. A method comprising the steps of: determining with a medication identification sensor whether a first medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator respectively depending on whether the first medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining; causing entry of the first medication into a medication container after the step of producing; sensing the entry with an entry sensor to verify that the first medication has entered the container; further comprising, after the steps of determining, producing, causing and sensing, the steps of determining with a medication identification sensor whether a second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; producing a correct or incorrect medication indicator related to the second medication respectively depending on whether the second medication is the correct or incorrect medication in accordance with the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication; causing entry of the second medication into the container after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication; and sensing the entry of the second medication with an entry sensor to verify that the second medication has entered the container; and further comprising the steps of providing a containment device which defines a filling position, wherein the containment device includes a wall which has inner and outer surfaces and defines an access opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface above the filling position, wherein the wall carries a cover which is movable relative to the wall between an open position in which medications may pass through the access opening into the container and a closed position in which medications may not pass through the access opening into the container; positioning the container at the filling position under the wall and access opening by moving the medication container relative to the wall to insert the medication container into the filling position so that the access opening is above the medication container in the filling position; opening the access opening by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the first medication from one of a person's hands through the opened access opening into the container to effect the step of causing entry of the first medication; closing the access opening, after the step of dropping and before the step of determining whether the second medication is a correct or incorrect medication, by moving the cover from the open position to the closed position; reopening the closed access opening after the step of producing the indicator related to the second medication by moving the cover from the closed position to the open position while the container remains at the filling position; dropping the second medication from one of the hands through the reopened access opening into the container while the container remains at the filling position to effect the step of causing entry of the second medication into the container; removing the container with the first and second medications therein from the filling position by moving the container relative to the wall; providing a box defining an interior chamber which extends over the wall; picking the first medication with one of the hands from a location outside the box; while holding the picked first medication in one of the hands, inserting the one of the hands holding the picked first medication into the box through an opening formed in a wall of the box; dropping the first medication from the inserted one of the hands to effect the step of dropping the first medication through the opened access opening into the container; after dropping the first medication, withdrawing the inserted one of the hands from the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; picking the second medication with one of the hands from a location outside the box; while holding the picked second medication in one of the hands, inserting the one of the hands holding the picked second medication into the box through the opening formed in the wall of the box; dropping the second medication from the inserted one of the hands holding the picked second medication to effect the step of dropping the second medication through the reopened access opening into the container; and after dropping the second medication, withdrawing from the box the one of the hands which dropped the second medication through the opening formed in the wall of the box.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: providing a plurality of storage bins each containing a plurality of medications; picking with one of the hands the first medication from one of the storage bins; moving the picked first medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the first medication, moving the one of the hands which dropped the first medication away from the access opening.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: picking with one of the hands the second medication from one of the storage bins; moving the picked second medication away from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked to adjacent the access opening; after the step of dropping the second medication, moving the one of the hands which dropped the second medication away from the access opening.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the one of the storage bins from which the first medication was picked is different from the one of the storage bins from which the second medication was picked.